Feb. 11--Nearly all women have a drawer full of cosmetic products to brighten their faces, cover blemishes, spruce hair, close pores and moisturize their skin.
In fact, according to the Mexican Dermatology Board, a typical Mexican woman uses nine separate beauty products with 126 different chemical elements as part of her daily grooming routines.
But because many products are not required to be tested for safety before hitting the market, as many as 25 percent of women suffer allergies or other irritations from cosmetics.
Dermatologist and researcher Yvette Fernandez Camacho says that one way to reduce the incidence of allergic reactions is to curb the use of chemical-laden products by substituting them for less aggressive, more earth- and body-friendly alternatives made from organic substances.
To that end, beauty care manufacturers have been jumping on the all-natural bandwagon, offering customers products that are free or almost free of synthetic chemicals.
In the last five years, more than 800 new organic beauty and personal care products have been introduced to the Mexican marketplace.
But just because a product proclaims itself "natural" does not necessarily mean it doesn't contain potentially irritating chemicals.
Since there are no official regulations to define "natural" beauty aids, any manufacturers can label their products "organic" or "natural" even if they contain synthetic chemicals.
"Your best bet is to keep with established, well-recognized companies which take safety and disclosure seriously," Fernandez Camacho said. "Make sure that the product has passed strict dermatological testing."
"Our products meet the highest standards of dermatological testing," said Selene Miranda, head of sales and promotion for the nature-based French hair product line Garnier. "We make sure that our products contain as few synthetic ingredients as possible, but the most important aspect is that they are thoroughly tested for safety."
"We have always strived to make our products as safe as possible," said L'Oreal Professional marketing director Fabian Flores, during the presentation of his company's latest line Serie Nature, a collection of organic hair and scalp products.
Kiehls marketing and public relations director for Mexico Maru Figueroa said one of her company's major selling points is its longtime commitment to using natural ingredients.
"Kiehls has been making grooming products from natural ingredients for more than 150 years," she said. "Our customers know that they can count on our products to be safe and gentle."
Clinique public relations director Pilar Milego said that her company's line has always catered to customers seeking hypoallergenic products.
Milego also said that because Clinique products do not usually contain harsh synthetic chemicals, they tend to be suited to even the most delicate skin types.
"There is a certain degree of confidence in knowing that a product is natural and meets certain safety standards and testing," said Salvador Escobar Francisco, head dermatologist of the Health Secretariat's Clinica Cinco de Especialidades in Mexico City.
"But in the end, there are no guarantees."
SAFETY FIRST
Averse reactions to synthetic chemicals in cosmetic products can range from simple skin irritations to full-blown infections that can leave permanent scarring, Escobar Francisco said.
Even products that patients have used for years without negative effects can cause spontaneous reactions without prior warning, he said.
Although most of these personal care products are topical, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin or scalp, the chemical components they contain can be absorbed into the body through the dermis, and that can lead to even more serious health concerns, he said.
Getting around the problem of synthetic chemicals in beauty aids is no easy matter because almost any product that contains water must contain some preservatives.
The beauty products most likely to cause reactions include bath soaps, detergents, antiperspirants, eye makeup, moisturizers, permanent wave lotions, shampoos, long-wearing lip stains and nail polish. Hair dyes can also be the source of skin reactions, particularly those containing ammonia used to lighten hair.
Most major personal care product companies do internal testing to ensure that their creams, ointments, shampoos and treatments are safe, but despite these measures, Escobar Francisco said, the occurrence of skin allergies and other negative reactions is on the rise.
Beautician Ruben Plata, director of Silver Scissors Salon, said that just because a product is free of synthetic chemicals does not necessarily mean that it will not cause allergies or irritations.
"There are hundreds of people who are allergic to tomatoes," Plata said, "so if a product contains these ingredients, it can provoke a negative reaction."
Nonetheless, both Fernandez Camacho and Escobar Francisco said organic products are about 60 percent less likely to cause negative reactions than those that contain synthetic chemicals.
"The best policy is to try out a product on a small patch of skin before using it," Fernandez Camacho said. "If you have a history of sensitive skin or allergic reactions to topical products, consult a dermatologist before using any new product. Outside of that, try to keep it natural."
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